PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 15910, 16 September 1915, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

. 'SOLDIERS’ INTERESTS DIS- ■ CUSSED.

<{Fhom Opr Parliamentary Reporter.]

„ - WELLINGTON, September 16. , . The only legislative business dealt with in the House of Representatives yester- ', , a y afternoon was the Scenery Preservation Amendment' Bill, which was’introduced by the Hon. W, F. Massey and ■ read, a first time.' :

.The Government seem to have realised that it is about, time that Parliament-gave , to legislative questions (which nave practically been ignored for about a fortnight), and. the. Priipe Minister gave notice yesterday to mbve : that on and after. Monday nextithe' House shall meet on Monday at 7.30 p.m. This means u- ” e o innin S of the - end -of a session which has been surprisingly disappointing as regards economical progress. TROOPSHIP LIFEBOAT AOCOMMODATION. , , The question of lifeboat accommodation Zealand troopships was asked by Mr Poland, who read a newspaper article commenting.on- the-alleged lack of boats on the troopships. The article was based on letters and diaries of members ot the -Sixth Reinforcements., It had been staled that' there were 1,400 on hoard one ship and only accommodation in the boats for 500. - Lots were drawn at night lor who should havo seats in the boats 3 in case of accident, and-when boat drill was carried out only those men could participate who -had drawn lots. He wished to -know whether greater care would be taken in the future ?

P l 6 Prime Minister pointed . out that several of the vessels now beinzr used as transports were small ships. When some of these vessels took close on 1,000 men at was almost impossible to provide sufficient boats. Mr Massey said he did not know what was -being done by the British Government, but he would make inquiries. The risk was greatly exaggerated. Great Britain had taken a-quarter of a million men to South Africa and back without the loss of a single life. Mr Poole; I suppose there are lifebelts , in every • bunk ?• . -Mr Massey ; j <lo not doubt that for a. single moment. Hon. W. H. Herries: The ships are under Board of Trade regulation. A SOUTHLAND GRIEVANCE. The attention of the Minister of • Defence (Hon. J. Allen) was drawn by Mr Anderson to the case of a Southland man rvho, had volunteered for service, bub who owing to a. small defect, could not to 'ih® front. He had been notified to°proeeed to Trentham to act as a woodsman and after he had -been there some da.vs he was again examined and discharged as medically unfit. He had given up a permanent position, and now had no work to do. Ho was -practically stranded. Could steps. be taken to prevent the recurrence of such, cases?

Hon. .J. Allen : Every case must be decided on its own merits. It is a difficult proolem to de<u with, Undftr locaJ medical examination it is hoped to make, the system uniform and so complete as to prevent men getting into camp who are not nt to be there. At the beginning. there was a complaint that the examination was too stiff. Experience in the field had proved that it was not stiff enough. Mr Anderson I Hut are not the retaliations relaxed in the case of medical orderlies? '

Mr Allen replied that he had no know.ledge ot the relaxation of the regulations He would inquire into the matter. He hoped that employers would keep billets open for men who served at Trentham as well as for thqse who went to the front. IN NEED OF A PENSION. Mr Jennings cited tho case of a soldier who had returned from Egypt so sick that he could not work. Ho was discharged, and was getting no pav. All he had was an allowance from a friendly i Bo was practically living on his brother. The man had been discharged four months ago, and his discharge gave his conduct as “exceedingly good.” Hon. J. Allen said that the law made provision for such cases. "A man was enritled to lull nay up to the time of his discharge, and several had sums' up to £SO to draw when discharged. He was also entitled to apply for a pension under the new Act.

NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. The_ position of non-commissioned officers in reinforcements drafts was mentioned by Mr Buick, who quoted a letter from a sergeant in the reinforcements. Ibis man is married and has a family. His pay as a sergeant, together with the separation allowance, is £2 15s per week, of which he proposed to assign £2 13s to bis wife and retain 3s for himself. He was told, however, that he could assign only £1 l'6s, which, with the separation would provide £2 2s a week. This was 'because when he reached the front there might be no need for n.c.o.s, and he would have to revert to the ranks. He had served in the South African War. If this were the_ position, there might be some difficulty in getting recruits in the future.

• Mr Allen said there was no difficulty in getting recruits. They were getting better and better as each reinforcement went away. _ All the men who received n.c.o. rank in the reinforcements were clearly told that they would retain their rank only till they got to Egypt. Definite appointments to ranks canid not be made . here as no one knew what vacancies there would be._ The men left with full knowledge of the circumstances and the chances they took. SICKNESS AT TRENTHAM. Mr Anstey asked the Minister of Defence if effective steps were being taken to prevent a recurrence of the serious outbreak of disease at Trentham. The hospital reports of the last few days showed that sickness was increasing. "For Monday there were 33 admissions to tho Trentham_ Hospital, on Tuesday 47, and that morning 61. This seemed a very large increase. . Mr Allen replied that he could give the House his full assurance that every care was being taken. Rather more sickness must bo expected at Trentham than at the other camps, ns the men there wer© all fresh troops, whereas at Eanxriotu and Tauherenikau the men were hardened. If the hon. member had examined the reports more carefully ho would also have seen that there was a larger number of men who came out of hospital than were admitted. Mr Anstey: They have been less during . the last few days; Mr Allen asked the House to remember ‘ .that there were 4.500 men in Trentham, nnd men suffering even from the ©lightest ailment were at once sent to the hospital.. Tn most cases they were out again in a few days. Mr Anstey; That does not account for the increase. Mr Allen: If hon. member© desire to create a panic they will find it is a very . easy thing to do. Very few of tho cases in hospital were sever©. SPECIAL RISKS. Mr Britt ‘asked what was the position ■ regarding the pensions of officers and men on the Dominion’s transports should they fall in with an enemy vessel or • puffer injury or death. Mr Allen said there was no special provision for'such cases, but if they occurred the sufferers could approach Parliament, and he had no doubt that Parliament would deal with each case on its merits. HORSES IN EGYPT. - . Hon. A. T. Ngata asked if it were the intention of the Government to send to Egypt men who had experience of horses but who were too old or otherwise unfit to go to the front, in order that they might look after tho horses there, and so relieve the sclddera now attending them, v Mr Alien replied that this was not necessary.. At present they were ©ending forward a number' of mounted riflemen not fully trained. These would complete ■' their training in Egypt, and would allow ; the . men row ■ there to go to the front. .Similar, drafts of 'men: would be sent forward regularly. If ever the need arose for , ’such men as mentioned by hon. mem.ber, he would call for them.

CRUNCH. BUSINESS. ■i ITip silting yesterday.- afternoon, was ipmctically formal and lasted less than half an hour. 'The Auckland City Empowering and the Wellington City Empowering Bills Aver© road a first time and referred to the Local Bills Committee. "V ores of sympathy were passed with tire widows and families of the late Mr George Beetham and .-Mr John M‘Lachlan, exmembers of -the House of. Representatives.